Media

Staggering drop in sugar and sodium levels in Pams and Value products

Foodstuffs revealed today that it has implemented a massive drop in sugar and sodium content across a wide range of Pams and Value products – ranging in some cases from a 26% reduction in sugar to an 80% reduction in sodium.

Chris Quin, CEO Foodstuffs North Island, says, “Foodstuffs has made huge strides in delivering on our commitment to reduce Childhood Obesity. We have several programmes in place including our very effective Food for Thought nutrition education programme, but we’ve made spectacular headway in reformulating hundreds of our Pams and Value products to reduce sugar and sodium content.

“To date we have removed 4,000 tonnes of sugar and 8,000 tonnes of sodium across our private label range, this equates to 740 Asian elephants’ worth of sugar and 76,000 All Blacks worth of sodium (based on their average weights). That’s a staggering saving – all going towards ensuring our community has access to healthier foods.”

Foodstuffs has committed to reviewing and reformulating all private label products and is also encouraging suppliers to do the same. “Our research shows that customers are looking for healthier options – and we’re working very hard to deliver on that expectation. It’s a vast job to review each product across New Zealand’s largest grocery brands, but we are totally committed.”

Examples of the changes are outlined below.

The results form part of a report to the Ministry of Health later this year which captures all the initiatives Foodstuffs has put in place to enhance the health and well-being of the community.

Quin says, “Foodstuffs believes that we have a duty of care to look after every New Zealander. A core part of that promise is to ensure that all New Zealanders have ready access to fresh, affordable, healthy food.

“We are delivering on our pledge to support the Government in their drive to reduce childhood obesity; reducing sugar and sodium content in our products, expanding the reach of our Food for Thought Programme, extensive support for the Starship Foundation with a focus on healthy food education and partnerships with foodbanks throughout New Zealand. However, we’re committed to doing more.

“We have made a significant investment in the Eat My Lunch programme – which aims to deliver 25,000 healthy lunches, per week, to children in need throughout New Zealand. This will ensure more children have full tummies so they can unlock their potential.

Foodstuffs is excited about the inroads we have made already and the plans in place to help New Zealanders enjoy a healthy future.”